Inspector Walks Through A Brand New Home And Finds Two Showers That Are Not Watertight, Loose Window Trim And Debris Already In The Drain

Buying a brand-new house feels like a promise that nothing will be wrong. A home inspector on Instagram shows why that promise deserves a second look.

A home inspector's final walk-through of a new house beside a modern tiled walk-in shower with a glass door

@thomasjoneshomes walks through a newly built home and points out the problems he finds as he goes. Two showers are not watertight, window trim is loose, and there is debris already sitting in a drain.

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Two Showers That Are Not Watertight

The inspector checks the spare bathroom shower enclosure to make sure it is watertight. His verdict is short: “This one is not.”

Then he moves to the primary bathroom. “And here’s the primary bathroom shower enclosure. This one’s not watertight either.”

A shower enclosure that leaks may not show a problem on day one. Water can slip behind walls or under floors, where it quietly causes damage that nobody sees until a stain or a smell shows up months later.

Debris Already In The Drain Of A House Nobody Has Lived In

He notes that the shower has a strainer to catch debris, which he calls good. Then he looks inside the drain to see whether anything is actually in there.

“And there it is,” he says. Debris is already sitting in the drain of a house that is supposed to be new.

That is a good reminder of how construction works. Dust, scraps and leftovers from many trades end up in places they should not, and somebody is supposed to clean them out before the buyers arrive.

Loose Window Trim And A Missing Piece That You Can Hear

The inspector finds a missing glazing bead trim on the side of a fixed window. He explains that is what can happen when the piece is missing, and he points out that you can hear the air coming through.

The metal trim around the windows is loose as well. He says it looks like the material used did not quite adhere to the metal.

Air leaks may seem like a small thing, but they can add up. A leaky window can mean drafts in winter, higher energy bills and a spot where water might get in during a storm.

Loose Outlets Are So Common He Jokes About Them

He also finds a loose in-floor receptacle, which is an outlet set into the floor. He jokes that if he had a dollar for every time one of these was loose, he would not be rich, but he would have around two or three hundred dollars.

It is a funny line, and it tells you how often he sees the same issues. A loose outlet is often an easy fix, but it is also the kind of detail that shows how closely the work was checked.

What Might Be Behind A Shower That Leaks

Shower enclosures can fail for a handful of ordinary reasons, such as gaps in the seals, a door that does not close tightly or a pan and drain that were not set up correctly. The inspector is simply running a test to see whether the enclosure holds water as it should.

The fix is often simple when it is found early. Caulk, sealant or an adjusted door can solve a small gap, but a leak that has been running for months can require tearing out tile and rebuilding.

That is why a buyer who finds a problem before closing is in a strong position. It is far easier to ask a builder to make a repair now than to pay for water damage later.

Homeowners can run their own simple check after moving in. Look at the caulk lines each season, notice any stains on the ceiling below a bathroom, and fix tiny gaps right away.

Why A New House Still Needs An Inspector

Many buyers assume a new home does not need an independent inspection because it was built to code and is under a builder’s warranty. But a city inspector may visit a house at set stages, and that is not the same as a thorough look at the finished product through a buyer’s eyes.

A private home inspector works for you. He or she checks the things you cannot easily check yourself, such as whether the showers hold water, how the windows are sealed and whether the outlets are secure.

The best time to find a problem is before you close on the house, when the builder is still motivated to make things right. After that, repairs may fall under a warranty process with its own rules and time limits.

How To Get The Most Out Of A New Construction Inspection

Hire an inspector who has experience with new construction, and ask for a sample report so you know what you will get. Attend the inspection if you can, because seeing the problems yourself makes them easier to understand.

Ask for a written list of items for the builder to fix, and keep a copy. Then go back for a follow-up check to make sure each repair was done, rather than taking the word of a quick phone call.

Do not feel awkward about asking. A builder who stands behind the work will not mind, and a builder who pushes back on a reasonable list is worth knowing about before you sign.

A new home should be exciting, and it can be. A little time with a good inspector just makes sure the excitement lasts after the moving boxes are unpacked.

Willow and Hearth